This blog will list news about all aspects of scorpion biology and important taxonomical updates from The scorpion Files. The Scorpion Files is a leading information source about scorpions, and has among others an updated list of all extant families, genera and species.(C) Jan Ove Rein and The Scorpion Files.

28 August, 2013

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a paper describing a new species of Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) from the island of Martinique (Lesser Antilles).

Tityus marechali Lourenco, 2013

Abstract:Tityus marechali sp. n. is described from the island of Martinique, Lesser Antilles. It is tentatively placed in the subgenusTityus s. str. pedning further studies on the intrageneric classification. The new species, described from two males and threefemales taken in a patch of secondary or pristine tropical forest in the region of Grande Anse, seems to be a local endemic.

02 August, 2013

Previously this year two papers on scorpionism in Iran have been published. The most medical important species are Hemiscorpius lepturus (Peters, 1862) (Hemiscorpiidae) and Androctonus crassicauda (Oliver, 1807) (Buthidae), and serious cases of scorpion envenomation including deaths are reported.

Abstract:Paper 1: Background: Scorpion sting is a major health problem in Iran. The aim of current study was to measure the incidencerates of scorpion stings, mortality, recovery, and affected age groups. The results of treatment with and withoutanti venom also were considered in the entire country during 2009.Methods: All the data were collected from emergency section of different hospitals and then were analyzed by relatedsoftware. The responsibility of such data collection and surveillance is related to the Department of Violenceand Injury, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran.Results: A total incidence of 59.5/100000 was found for the 12-month period. During the study period the most andthe least cases were reported from Khuzestan and Mazandaran Provinces with incidence of 541 and 0 per 100000respectively. Totally 40220 anti venom vials were used, i.e., the ratio of 91 vial/ 100 affected cases. The stings occurmainly in rural areas (57.7%). Young people with the age group of 15–24 years old were the most victims of stings.The mortality and recovery rates of cases who had received anti venom less than 6 h of stings were calculated as0.01% and 99.9% respectively.Conclusion: The high incidence of scorpion stings in Iran especially in Khuzestan suggests the necessity of preventiveprogrammes for decreasing the incidence. Such programmes could start by community educating in the highprevalent areas. In addition prompt and local treatment is particularly important for infants and pre-school children.

Paper 2: Scorpionism is a major health problem in Khuzestan, included Ramhormoz, south-west of Iran. Thisdescriptive retrospective survey was conducted to give us basic information about scorpionism in this city during2006-2010. During 2006-2010, a total of 20902 scorpion-stung patients referred to the Rmhormoz health centers. Thefrequencies of entomoepidemiological and medical parameters were recorded converted to the percentage rank. Theresults of this study showed that the preventing ways of scorpion stings should be educated among the residents andantivenin of scorpions provided in the health centers of Ramhormoz.

01 August, 2013

Wilson Lourenco and Dinh-Sac Pham have recently published the findings of a cave dwelling species of Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980 (Euscorpiidae) in the Hua Ma cave in Viet Nam.

Euscorpiops cavernicola Lourenco & Pham, 2013

This is the first species in Euscorpiidae that seems to be adapted to a cave habitat, but the new species doesn't show major signs of a full adaption to cave life.

Abstract:Euscorpiops cavernicola sp. n., belonging to the family Euscorpiidae Laurie, is described onthe basis of two male and two female specimens collected in the Hua Ma cave located inthe Quang Khe commune, Ba Be district of Bac Kan province inViet Nam. The new speciespresents most features exhibited by scorpions within the genus Euscorpiops, however itmay represent the first discovered Scorpiopinae species exhibiting certain adaptations tocave life.